The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

R

Rusty Fingers

New member
Hi all:

This has probably been asked here before but here goes:

I'm looking for a new warm-fat versatile 15 to 30 watt tube amp with reverb for blues, jazz and classic rock, to be used with single coils or mini humbuckers. I'm looking for tube tone at bedroom levels. Should be somewhere in the $500 to $1000 price range.

Currently I play through a digitech simulator and live mostly in the Brit Combo (Vox AC30) amp model with the american 2x12 or blonde 2x12 cabinet models. I play mostly clean to "starting to breakup" but occassionally go into higher gain territory. I always use reverb, sometimes use light chorus. Typically I don't use effects, but an effects loop would still be a nice feature.

I've tried to survey what's available in that price range and here is the list I've come up with:

Ampeg J15T
Carvin Vintage 16
Crate V1512
Fender Blues Junior
Laney LC15R
Peavey Classic 30
Rivera Pubster 25
Vox AC15CC

Any opinions on these? Any others?
Thanks, Rusty
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Rusty Fingers said:
I'm looking for tube tone at bedroom levels.
Click to expand...
I don't like to rain on your parade but in my experience this is something of an oxymoron. :( Of course, "bedroom volume" might mean something very different to you than to me. In my book it's something like "able to play at 11pm in an apartment without irritating the neigbors".

The only amps I know of that provide anything like that are the ZVex Nano Amp and a Doberman 1.5W amp I once owned. The problem with those amps in your application is that they never really clean up. Even my 10W Peters doesn't have enough headroom to have cleans at meaningful volume without a little hair. The other problem with those amps is that they don't have enough volume to really keep up in an informal jam, let alone hold up to a drummer.

On the other hand, a 15W amp might be able to stand up to playing with others but is often not able to really give up the goods at bedroom levels. Another issue is that most speakers don't sound good when driven and the sub-watt levels that bedroom volume implies.

There's a reason why I have a Korg Pandora, Guitarport, and Micro Cube. :( YMMV and if you're really looking for a bedroom amp, I'd suggest trying all the low power tube amps you can lay hands upon and be prepared to compromise on things like reverb. The Blues Jr and the Crate would be the first on your list I'd suggest checking out, though.
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Rusty Fingers said:
Ampeg J15T
Carvin Vintage 16
Crate V1512
Fender Blues Junior
Laney LC15R
Peavey Classic 30
Rivera Pubster 25
Vox AC15CC
Click to expand...

If you're also interested in secondhand stuff, I would like to add the Mesa Subway Rocket (20 watts, 1x10), Mesa DC2, Peavey Classic 20 and Laney TT20 to your list. All four of these aren't built anymore, but really deserve recommendation in my opinion. Especially the Laney is a very cool little amp, incredibly versatile for such a minimalistic little thing. It shimmers, spins, roars or screams whenever you want it to. It hasn't been around for long, unfortunately (and undeserved!) so it may be hard to find but it's really worth a try.
The Subway Rocket is also a cool little amp, but you have to like the Mesa tone, with its typical, very big and thick mids. Note: I'm getting one myself next week, a buddy of mine is selling his.
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Tube tone at bedroom level....Do you need the amp to gig? If not, I would suggest a Crate V58. 5 watts, tube,celestion speaker...shoule be plenty loud for bedroom levels.
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

If only you could spend about $200 more you could buy a Dr. Z Maz 18! those things rule for what you described. Also stay as far away from the AC15CC as possible.
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Because it's a cheap amp, imo, and it's definitly not worth it's price.

Kamanda, isn't the valve king like 50w?

I'd recommend the Blues Junior and the Carvin V16.
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

I spent a few years searching for the same thing it sounds like you need. I ended up with a peavey classic 20 (no longer made, but a great little amp) and a Fender Blues Jr. I love them both, but like a previous poster said, to get anywhere near actual tube overdrive or full on tube distortion, these little buggers have to be LOUD. Thats why I also have an inexpensive Vox AD30VT Valvetronix amp. It is extremely versatile, giving you fairly authentic tube sound from clean Fender blackface and bassman, to Marshall plexi and jcm 800 overdrive, to the scorching tones of a Mesa Boogie Recto or a dumble overdrive. Of course it also sound BETTER loud, but the point is it still sounds good at near whisper volumes too. Plus you get the added effects. It also has a dial on the back that will lower the wattage down to 1 watt, so you can crank it wide open and still be quiet. For the price, you really can't dislike this little amp. BTW don't judge the amp by its factory presets if you try one, I don't know who chose them, but they Don't showcase the amp well.
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Thanks all for the responses so far.

Alec: Its ok to rain on the parade. That's what I'm trying to figure out: Would a tube amp in this watt range give me an improvement in tone over the digitech? Otherwise, I'd buy a Cube 30 and be done with it.

Bungalobill: No gigs, just practice or play with friends. But gotta have reverb. Maybe a Fender Reverb unit into a V58?

Komanda: You gotta sound-proof bedroom? But seriously does a higher wattage amp with something like a Hot Plate Attenuator make sense?

So far its the Carvin with a +2. Callous and Rushfan: What types of music do you guys play on the Carvin? How does it sound?

Stratman: Does a Franklin fit my description? Can you get a Franklin with Reverb? I assumed that Celtic would be out of my price range. I quess these are questions for Scott F.
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

I don't play a carvin, actually, I play a Blues Junior. But it was a tough decision between the two. The carvin does have a 15w/5w switch, which was another reason I suggested it.
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Rusty Fingers said:
Thanks all for the responses so far.

Alec: Its ok to rain on the parade. That's what I'm trying to figure out: Would a tube amp in this watt range give me an improvement in tone over the digitech? Otherwise, I'd buy a Cube 30 and be done with it.

Bungalobill: No gigs, just practice or play with friends. But gotta have reverb. Maybe a Fender Reverb unit into a V58?

Komanda: You gotta sound-proof bedroom? But seriously does a higher wattage amp with something like a Hot Plate Attenuator make sense?

So far its the Carvin with a +2. Callous and Rushfan: What types of music do you guys play on the Carvin? How does it sound?

Stratman: Does a Franklin fit my description? Can you get a Franklin with Reverb? I assumed that Celtic would be out of my price range. I quess these are questions for Scott F.
Click to expand...


You could go with a good reverb pedal or the V-32 would fit the bill as it has a master volume....I gig with one, great amp for the price.
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

+1 on the Valveking, I've got the 50w combo, and it can cover a lot of tonal ground, even at 11pm right next to your parents room, without getting the heave ho! :)
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

The classic 20 will kick the 30's butt for what you are looking for. I played one in a very small guitar store, and it got a great sound at low volumes. The 30 sounded like absolute crap at low volumes.
 
Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

you should look into the traynor ycv 15blue. it has el84 so its warm and good with blues, has a very nice spring reverb, has a headphone jack for quiet practicing, class A, very good amp all around, and small too.

i bet it could go loud enough for most things that youd want to do, and you could always add another cab.

you can also look into the ycv50 blue, its 50 watts, but master volume control allows you to go down way low, and still be able to blast duiring gigs and stuff. i love this amp.
 
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